Mega scorns tight entrepreneurs<\/p>\n
Leony Aurora and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri chided businesspeople for being
\nspoiled and unwilling to spend their own money to promote their
\nproducts abroad, instead depending heavily on the government.<\/p>\n
She said in a meeting with newly elected officials of the
\nIndonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) at the State
\nPalace on Wednesday that she always asked Minister of Trade and
\nIndustry Rini Soewandi to bring businesspeople along on foreign
\ntrips.<\/p>\n
\"But they always ask 'who's going to pay?',\" said Megawati. To
\navoid suggestions of collusion between her and the entrepreneurs,
\nthey are asked to fund the trips themselves, and they always back
\nout, she added.<\/p>\n
The constant promotion of Indonesia's products overseas would
\nbe useless without the support of the businesspeople to make sure
\ndeals materialize, she told the audience, which included new
\nKadin chairman Mohammad Hidayat, former chairman Aburizal Bakrie
\nand other top entrepreneurs, such as James Riyadi and Ciputra.<\/p>\n
Indonesia desperately needs to increase exports to accelerate
\neconomic growth. Although last year's exports increased by 5.2
\npercent to US$61 billion from $57.2 billion in 2002, they
\ncontributed only 20 percent to the 4.1 percent growth in the same
\nperiod. Domestic consumption contributed more than 70 percent to
\nthe economy.<\/p>\n
Exports in 2004 are expected to increase by 7 percent, mainly
\ndue to the improving global economy.<\/p>\n
The President also questioned why businesspeople did not make
\npromotions globally, such as through international TV channels
\nand airports.<\/p>\n
\"(They say) it's the government's duty to promote, (but) what
\nabout the entrepreneurs?\" she lamented.<\/p>\n
Megawati also slammed businesspeople who belittled the
\ngovernment's achievements in stabilizing the country's macro
\neconomy, such as lower inflation and increasing foreign exchange
\nreserves.<\/p>\n
\"Our colleagues seem to forget that behind those criticisms,
\nthey have also contributed to our hardships,\" she said. \"They
\nwere once even the cause of the problem,\" she added, referring to
\nhuge funds the government had to provide to bailout ailing banks
\nand restructure indebted companies.<\/p>\n
Kadin held its fourth national congress and a business forum
\nin Jakarta last week. During the events, which ended last Friday
\nwith the appointment of Mohammad Hidayat as the new chairman,
\nmany questioned the effectiveness of the improved macro economy,
\nas it has not translated into brisker investment activities.<\/p>\n
Members of Kadin also asked for closer and more equal
\ncooperation with the government in setting up the country's
\neconomic priorities.<\/p>\n
\"We don't need to debate and waste time just to clarify the
\nstatus of the relationship between the private sector and the
\ngovernment,\" she said.<\/p>\n
If the government has to implement a policy and Kadin has a
\nview on the matter, the chamber should present its view as an
\ninput, said Megawati.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-scorns-tight-entrepreneurs-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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